ESA title
PAST EDITIONS

THE 3rd EO
COMMERCIALISATION
FORUM

12-14 May 2026 | Seville, Spain

REGISTER Registration is open until 4 May 2026 Please note that onsite registration is not possible
AEE

AEE supports the 3rd EO Commercialisation Forum

SUMMARY

Held in Seville (Spain), from 12 to 14 May 2026, the 3rd ESA Earth Observation Commercialisation Forum (ESA CommEO) will bring together the global Earth observation ecosystem for three days of insight, innovation, and high-level networking.

The Forum will feature an engaging programme including keynote speeches, panel discussions, exhibitor booths, and curated matchmaking opportunities designed to foster new partnerships and boost commercial growth within the Earth observation sector.

This years’ CommEO is focused on the latest trends arising in the EO commercial market – and for the first time the event will count with special sponsorship opportunities.

A dedicated exhibition area, open throughout the event, will provide a unique platform for organisations to showcase cutting-edge Earth observation solutions, products, and services to an international audience of industry leaders, investors, and decision-makers.

Gain visibility among key national and international decision-makers shaping the future of Earth Observation commercial markets. By joining CommEO 2026, you will be part of the dialogue across the entire Earth Observation value chain — from businesses and end users to policies, financing, and technology.

Meet institutions, industry leaders, start-ups, investors, users and entrepreneurs, and connect with potential partners while staying ahead of key market trends and challenges.

CommEO Speakers

  Josef Aschbacher
Josef Aschbacher
Director General ESA
  Simonetta Cheli
Simonetta Cheli
Director of Earth Observation Programmes ESA
  Juliette Lambin
Juliette Lambin
Head of Future Missions & Architecture Department in Earth Observation Programmes Directorate ESA/ESTEC
  Fabrizio Pirondini
Fabrizio Pirondini
Founder & CEO Xoople
  Rune Floberghagen
Rune Floberghagen
Dept. Head Climate action, sustainability and Science ESA
  Inge Jonckheere
Inge Jonckheere
Head of Green Solutions ESA
  Benita Gloria Gornicka
Benita Gloria Gornicka
Space Missions and Applications Director Europe Unibap Space Solutions AB
  Andrew Cawthorne
Andrew Cawthorne
Managing Director SSTL
  Alessandro Grasso
Alessandro Grasso
Senior Manager – Earth Observation Luxembourg Space Agency
  More Speakers
More Speakers
Coming Soon

PROGRAMME

The 3rd EO Commercialisation Forum

Strategic Roadmap, Intelligence Leadership, and Market Adoption
12 - 14 MAY 2026
Day 1 - 12 May 2026
08:3009:30
Registration and Welcome Breakfast Lobby & Hall Sherry
09:3010:30
1.1 Opening Session Main Stage - Convenciones
High-level opening featuring leaders from ESA, the EC, and financial institutions to trace the strategic roadmap for European EO.
10:3011:30
1.2 The EO Worldwide Market Status and Forecast Main Stage - Convenciones
Overview of global market health, updated projections, and separate analysis of upstream and downstream sectors.
11:3012:00
Coffee break sponsored by GeoVille Hall Sherry
12:0013:00
1.3 EO Market Trends, Opportunities and Threats Main Stage - Convenciones
Analysis of shifting policies and financial dynamics, highlighting emerging opportunities and fast-growing vertical markets.
13:0014:30
Lunch Break Hall Sherry
13:4514:30
Parallel 1.4 CommEO Award powered by CDL-Milan & ESA Third Stage - Hall Sherry
Spotlighting promising EO startups through a live jury assessment.
14:3015:30
1.5 Institutional support to EO commercialization Main Stage - Convenciones
How ESA support the EO commercial sector.
15:3016:30
1.6 The EO journey: from Industry to Investors Main Stage - Convenciones
Dialogue between VCs and industry to identify funding gaps and strategies for international scale-up.
16:3017:00
Coffee break sponsored by GeoVille Hall Sherry
17:0017:45
1.7 CCM – Commercial innovation for European strategic autonomy Main Stage - Convenciones
How the Copernicus Contributing Missions (CCM) programme is driving innovation within Europe’s commercial Earth observation ecosystem.
17:4517:55
1.8 First Day Wrap Up Main Stage - Convenciones
Summary of the day's strategic highlights.
Day 2 - 13 May 2026
09:0010:00
2.1 Commercialisation in Dual Use Main Stage - Convenciones
Demonstrating how commercial EO solutions can effectively address civil security and defense user needs.
10:0011:00
2.2 From European data to European intelligence leadership Main Stage - Convenciones
Transitioning to "Earth Intelligence" via foundation models, agentic AI, and orchestration of heterogeneous data.
11:0011:30
Coffee break sponsored by GeoVille Hall Sherry
11:3012:30
2.3 From Space Data to Orbital Intelligence Main Stage - Convenciones
AI, Edge Computing and Cloud Infrastructure in Orbit: Exploring new EO commercial models and the shift toward real-time processing.
12:3014:00
Lunch Break Hall Sherry
13:1514:00
Parallel 2.4 Grand Marathon Finalists Pitches Third Stage - Hall Sherry
The final stage of the Grand Marathon competition, where innovators pitch their high-impact solutions to a panel of expert judges.
14:0015:15
2.5 EO User Case Studies Main Stage - Convenciones
Concrete operational examples on how EO delivers value today.
15:1516:00
2.6 Inside the EO Adoption Journey Main Stage - Convenciones
Analysis of the path from initial curiosity to integrating EO into routine standard business operations.
16:0016:45
Parallel 2.6b CCM – Virtual satellite constellations for rapid response Second Stage - Ronda
Exploring the role of commercial satellite missions in complementing the Copernicus program and its possible evolution.
16:0016:30
Coffee break sponsored by GeoVille Hall Sherry
16:3017:30
2.7 EO Adoption: Commercial vs Government Use Cases Main Stage - Convenciones
Panel examining how demand signals and procurement pathways differ between public and private sectors.
17:3017:40
2.8 Second Day Wrap Up Main Stage - Convenciones
Summary of the day's strategic highlights.
Day 3 - 14 May 2026
09:0009:30
3.1 Overview of EO Adoption in Europe: Challenges & Opportunities Main Stage - Convenciones
Framing the current state of adoption, highlighting successes and persistent barriers.
09:3010:30
3.2a EO for Food Security and Agriculture Monitoring Main Stage - Convenciones
Addressing water stress, crop performance, and soil health at scale.
09:3010:30
Parallel 3.2b Africa and commercial opportunities Second Stage - Ronda
A dedicated session exploring the new Africa Business Innovation Lab in Kenya, a new model for the African continent.
10:3011:00
Coffee break sponsored by GeoVille Hall Sherry
11:0012:00
3.3 EO for Climate and Environmental Monitoring Main Stage - Convenciones
Environmental Monitoring Using EO outputs for biodiversity, carbon tracking, and long-term ecosystem management.
12:0013:00
3.4 EO for Critical Infrastructure Monitoring Main Stage - Convenciones
Operational awareness for energy grids, transport, and strategic networks.
13:0014:00
Lunch Break Hall Sherry
14:0016:00
Parallel 3.5b Matchmaking with Investors Second Stage - Ronda
Facilitated B2B sessions designed to connect companies and investors.
14:0015:15
3.5-1a From Market to Orbit: Downstream Expectations for Future EO Capabilities Main Stage - Convenciones
Downstream leaders present requirements to upstream technology providers for future capabilities.
15:1516:00
3.5-2a Support to New Space Companies Main Stage - Convenciones
To explore how small National Space Agencies can effectively support the growth of New Space companies.
16:0016:15
3.6 Event Wrap up Main Stage - Convenciones
Final conclusions and closing of the conference.
16:3017:00
Coffee break Hall Sherry
17:00
End of the Event
Parallel Sessions (TIME TBD)
Parallel 1: Matchmaking with Investors
Facilitated B2B sessions designed to connect companies and investors.
Parallel 2: Grand Marathon Finalists Pitches
The final stage of the Grand Marathon competition, where innovators pitch their high-impact solutions to a panel of expert judges.
Parallel 3: CommEO Award powered by CDL-Milan & ESA
Spotlighting promising EO startups through a live jury assessment.
Parallel 4: Africa and commercial opportunities
A dedicated session exploring the new Africa Business Innovation Lab in Kenya, a new model for the African continent.
Parallel 5: Contributing Mission to Copernicus
Exploring the role of commercial satellite missions in complementing the Copernicus program and its possible evolution.
Parallel 6: Support to New Space Companies
To explore how small National Space Agencies can effectively support the growth of New Space companies.

MATCHMAKING SESSION

These curated 1-on-1 meetings provide a structured environment for start-ups, industry leaders and investors to forge high-impact partnerships. Whether you are looking for venture capital, technical collaborators or new customers, these matchmaking sessions ensure you connect with the right stakeholders to scale your Earth observation solutions.

If you’re interested in attending the matchmaking sessions, please flag the relative box during the registration process.

If you’re interested in attending the matchmaking sessions, please flag the relative box during the registration process and register through this form.

3rd CommEO Award

(Powered by CDL-Milan & ESA)

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Creative Destruction Lab (CDL-Milan) invite you to participate in the 3rd CommEO Award. This co-created competition is designed for ambitious, early-stage startups looking to anchor their technical innovation in a robust commercial strategy.

Prizes include a guaranteed interview for the Creative Destruction Lab’s Global CDL Space Programme, a € 25.000 voucher for ESA Third-Party-Missions (TPM) data, a € 10.000 voucher for OVHcloud’s cloud computing services, and a free admission to the event

The deadline for submissions is 15 March 2026. The top five finalists will be selected on 13 April 2026 in Milan (Italy) and advance to the final round in Seville during the event.

Know more about the 3rd CommEO Award and register here.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

‘Squares and Bridges’ of Seville.

Join us for an outdoor experience as we wander through the city’s grand plazas, where centuries of Roman, Moorish and Christian history meet, on 13 May 2026, from 18:00 to 20:00.

The star of this activity is the emblematic Plaza de España, the most iconic monument of Seville. Discover the magic of Seville by wandering through Seville’s most picturesque quarter, the Santa Cruz quarter, with stunning views of the Giralda tower, Cathedral and the Royal Palace Alcazar.

A one-way shuttle service will be provided from Meliá Lebreros to Plaza de España.

At the conclusion of the guided tour, participants will have the chance to explore Seville’s vibrant neighbourhoods and unwind with delicious tapas and refreshing drinks.

GALA DINNER

On the first day of the event, join us for the social highlight of the forum – a hosted Gala Dinner dedicated to celebrating the connections made and the future of Earth observation.

The evening will feature a curated menu of Andalusian culinary delights, complemented by live music and entertainment.

To ensure a seamless experience, complimentary shuttle buses will provide round-trip transportation from the Hotel Meliá Lebreros, allowing you to relax and enjoy an unforgettable evening of networking.

If you’re interested in attending this complementary Gala Dinner, please flag the relative box during the registration process.

SPONSORS

Position your organisation at the forefront of the rapidly evolving Earth observation commercial market by partnering with CommEO 2026.

This premier forum offers unparalleled brand visibility, ensuring you engage directly with decision-makers across the Earth observation value chain. By sponsoring, you will strengthen essential relationships with end users, institutions, entrepreneurs, investors and generate qualified leads by meeting key stakeholders who are actively shaping the future of Earth observation commercialisation.

CommEO 2026 is your focused platform to showcase your expertise and build your brand’s standing in the core Earth observation commercial ecosystem.

To align your strategic goals with our audience, organisations can choose between different sponsorship categories designed to maximise visibility and engagement.

SPONSORSHIP PORTAL

VENUE

The forum will be hosted at the prestigious Hotel Meliá Lebreros, one of Seville’s largest and most modern convention destinations.

Strategically located near the Santa Justa train station and the Seville San Pablo Airport, the venue offers state-of-the-art conference facilities specifically designed to foster high-level collaboration.

REGISTER TO THE 3rd COMMERCIALISATION FORUM

Registration is open until 4 May 2026 Please note that onsite registration is not possible